My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.
Aretha Franklin
Christmases past, my sister Carolyn and I - we'd been waiting for Santa all night. Nothing! Where is this man?
Aretha Franklin
Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.
Aretha Franklin
In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal - universal and transporting.
Aretha Franklin
I think the hardest thing is losing weight. That's the hardest thing more than anything else.
Aretha Franklin
My upbringing was in the church. We had to attend regularly. And, of course, the church provided a training ground for me, so to speak, as a young vocalist and certainly gave me all of the spiritual values that I needed as a young lady.
Aretha Franklin
You have singers that are trained, and then you have natural singers: people that, in my opinion, were just born to sing. And hopefully, I am one of them.
Aretha Franklin
John Legend is, in my opinion, classic. He is one of the best finds that has come along in a long time.
Aretha Franklin
We didn't have music videos. You weren't an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft: how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and error.
Aretha Franklin
Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum.
Aretha Franklin
Falling out of love is like losing weight. It's a lot easier putting it on than taking it off.
Aretha Franklin
Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had this huge hit, 'You Send Me.' Irma, my older sister, and I heard 'You Send Me' on the radio while we were driving through the South one night. We had to stop the car. We got out and danced around the car out on the highway.
Aretha Franklin
I've been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well.
Aretha Franklin
I don't feel one's personal medical condition is everybody's business. It just isn't something you advertise, and it's not open to discussion.
Aretha Franklin
I loved going to church. I enjoyed being a part of the choir and just doing things in and around the church. But as a young girl, I certainly enjoyed watching and listening to my dad.
Aretha Franklin
I picked up some wonderful things just listening to other pianists that I appreciate, and that would be Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Vladimir Horowitz, and Art Tatum. Those are the pianists I really enjoy and admire.
Aretha Franklin
Well, Babyface brings his savoir faire to every project. He's a very easy producer to work with, very detailed in listening to everything.
Aretha Franklin
If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about.
Aretha Franklin
Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening.
Aretha Franklin
I think it would be a far greater world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other.
Aretha Franklin
For many years, I've wanted to do one, and I've always mentioned it to the chieftains, and they would say things like, 'Oh well. Christmas albums don't sell,' and things like that. But that's not the point. Christmas albums are important. The music is important. The season is important.
Aretha Franklin
Most of what I wear, I select myself. You can't please everybody, and as long as I'm comfortable with what I wear, I think that's what's important.
Aretha Franklin
'Rocking With Leroy' used to come on when I would come in from school. It was a very, very big R&B broadcast of the day when I was a young girl. And I would come in and put my books down, lie down on the floor, and listen to 'Rocking With Leroy.'
Aretha Franklin
We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right.
Aretha Franklin
Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.
Aretha Franklin
It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I've done my job.
Aretha Franklin
I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey - like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone.
Aretha Franklin